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Organization Fights For Clean Air

By Terri Rimmer

The Blue Skies Alliance in Dallas, TX has been fighting for clean air for years, battling the likes of electric companies and politicians.

On Feb. 8th the organization held a press conference at TXU headquarters, the local electric company’s office.

“Why is TXU sacrificing the health of citizens in the Dallas/Fort Worth area?” said Wendi Hammond of Blue Skies. “The huge proposed TXU plant would worsen air quality in DFW and would be the worst in the nation for toxic mercury.”

According to Hammond Dallas and Forth Worth would be unable to meet air quality goals if the proposed coal plants are built.

At a recent Toxic Texas Power Plant Tour health risks of building seven dirty coal plants was highlighted.

Other parties involved in the fight include the Public Citizen, SEED Coalition, Dr. Shelly M. Harvey, Dallas League of Women Voters, TPOWER, Our Land Our Lives, and the Sierra Club.

According to federal regulations the Metroplex needs to reduce the smog-forming gas (NOx) by at least 183 tons per day for the air to be safe to breathe.

TXU’s huge proposed Oak Grove lignite plant would sacrifice the health of citizens in the Dallas/Fort Worth area by adding significantly to the region’s air pollution, according to Blue Skies.

“The sad truth is that Texas has run out of excuses,” said one Blue Skies member.

Six new coal-fired power plants have applied for permits and one is in development in Texas.

Each of the new plants represents a commitment to a 50 percent massive increased output of carbon dioxide according to The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Coal plants are the single largest industrial sources of sulfur dioxide, nitro oxides, particulate matter, and mercury air pollution in Texas according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Existing coal plants reported 1,002,227 tons of air emission recently which is 47.7 percent of Texas’ total industrial air emissions for the most recent year.

Texas ranks number one among all plants for mercury air pollution from industry due to coal plants lacking smokestack controls on mercury, based on the U.S. EPA Toxic Inventory date for the years 2002-2003.

Texas is the #1 coal-consuming state in the nation, according to a report from the Clean Coal Technology’s Foundation of Texas’ 2005 report.

TXU ranked number one in 2003 among all Texas companies for pollution.

If you are concerned about coal-fired power plants and their effects on your health and the health of your family and friends you can write Governor Rick Perry, Office of the Governor, Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711-2428.

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